Automatic winding machine

ABSTRACT

An automatic winding machine having a carrier for rotatably supporting a plurality of winding supports and rotatable to move the winding supports in an arcuate path intersecting a delivery path along which yarn to be wound is supplied by a pneumatic transport tube assembly, the pneumatic transport tube assembly having a transport tube with a longitudinal slit therein such that as a winding support is moved from a mounting station to a winding station over the arcuate path, the yarn to be wound is caught by the winding support and moved through the longitudinal slit. The winding supports are held on the carrier by gripping mechanisms having flanges axially slidable to grip an empty winding support at a mounting station and release a full winding support at a removing station such that winding of continuously delivered yarn can be accomplished automatically without requiring manual intervention.

United States Patent [1 1 Pradier [451 Aug. 26, 1975 [73] Assignee: Rhone-Poulenc-Textile, Paris,

France [22] Filed: July 15, 1974 [21] Appl. No.: 488,769

Related US. Application Data [63] Continuation-in-part of Scr, No. 324,400, Jan. 17,

1973, abandoncd.

[30] Foreign Application Priority Data Jan. 17, 1972 France 72.01650 [52] US. Cl 242/18-A; 242/18 DD; 242/18 PW;

344,202 11/1921 Germany 242/18 A 1,012,166 12/1965 United Kingdom.... 242/18 A 1,071,073 6/1967 United Kingdom.... 242/18 A 1,104,156 2/1968 United Kingdom 242/18 A Primary ExaminerStanley N. Gilreath Attorney, Agent, or FirmSherman & Shalloway 5 7 ABSTRACT An automatic Winding machine having a carrier for rotatably supporting a plurality of winding supports and rotatable to move the winding supports in an arcuate path intersecting a delivery path along which yarn to be wound is supplied by a pneumatic transport tube assembly, the pneumatic transport tube assembly having a transport tube with a longitudinal slit therein such that as a winding support is moved from a mounting station to a winding station over the arcuate path, the yarn to be wound is caught by the winding support and moved through the longitudinal slit. The winding supports are held on the carrier by gripping mechanisms having flanges axially slidable to grip an empty winding support at a mounting station and release a full winding support at a removing station such that winding of continuously delivered yarn can be accomplished automatically without requiring manual intervention.

8 Claims, 5 Drawing Figures PATENTED AUGZ s 1915 sum 2 0g 3 F/a z AUTOMATIC WINDING MACHINE This is a continuation-in-part of U.S. application Ser. No. 324,400. filed Jan. 17, 1973. now abandoned.

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 1. Field of the Invention The present invention pertains to the winding of textile yarns and. more particularly. to a machine for automatically winding continuously delivered textile yarn at high speed on yarn winding supports.

2. Discussion of the Prior Art A substantial problem in the winding of continuously delivered yarn, such as the yarn produced by a spinnerette, is that once a support has been completely wound, the support must be removed and an empty support substituted therefor. thereby requiring winding interruptions representing substantial down time. The down time between winding on successive supports is advantageously as small as possible in order to increase production rates and decrease waste. The problem of removing fully wound supports and replacing them with empty supports is complicated by the fact that any fail ure in either the removal or replacement operations presents a substantial waste of yarn since the yarn is being delivered continuously, and it must be continuously utilized with down time minimized. That is, whenmomentary direction of the yarn is supplied to an auxiliary receptacle, such as a waste container, the time of utilization of the container must be as brief as possible, particularly when the yarn is being delivered at high speed. Thus, it is desirable to automatically implement the above opertion, especially where yarn is delivered at high speed, in that manual operations requiring fixed times involve a proportionately greater time loss in high speed winding than at low speed winding and, therefore, involve a greater amount of waste material. The terms high speed winding as utilized in.this application refer to speeds above 3,000 m/min., such speeds ranging up to 6,000 to 7,000 m/min. and greater.

Several solutions have been proposed for maximizing winding operations for continuously supplied yarn; however, such solutions have to date had unacceptable disadvantages associated therewith. Generally, winding apparatus rotatably mount a winding support, such as a bobbin or pirn, on a pivoting arm or swing arm. The winding support is rotated by peripheral contact with a rotary winding roll, and the yarn is longitudinally distributed along the winding support by a reciprocating mechanism for a yarn guide.

The winding apparatus normally utilizes at least two swing arms alternately occupying a winding position and a waiting position along with means for transferring the yarn from a full winding support to an empty one. In the apparatus of French Patent No. 1,201,341, the

swing arms are mounted facing each other and form an friction of the wound yarn on the winding roll is to be eliminated during replacement ofa full support with an v winding support with an empty winding support is effected by pivotting the lever, as shown in French Pat. Nos. 1,140,100 and 1,155,036, for example. Use of such apparatus in practice, however, requires the employment of relatively complex machinery which is limited as to speed due to vibrations resulting from the lack of rigidity created by the great number of components, among other causes. Furthermore, the replacement of a full winding support with an empty winding support is a delicate operation and manual intervention is required in order to complete the operation.

A further apparatus utilized to continuously transfer supply yarn from one winding support to another involves the transferring of the yarn from a reciprocating mechanism for a full winding support to a reciprocating mechanism for an empty winding support, as shown for example in French Pat. Nos. 1,155,782 and 1,184,089. Such apparatus, however, has found little use in practice in that it requires two complete winding systems including swing arm mechanisms with rotating and reciprocating mechanisms with one of the two winding systems always being inoperative. Furthermore, the transfer of the yarn from one reciprocating mechanism to the other has a tendency to vary yarn take-off from the supply which at high speeds can be extremely harmful. Additionally, bobbin removal and replacement require manual operation.

Other apparatus for replacing wound supports with empty supports mount the winding supports on a vertical plate that can rotate about a horizontal shaft, and the yarn is distributed by a fixed reciprocating mechanism independent of the plate with the winding supports driven axially in rotation, as shown for example in French Patent No. 1,246,442. This apparatus, however, has the disadvantages concommitant with axial drive; that is, a system is required to control the angular velocity in order to maintain the peripheral speed of yarn take-off from the supply constant. Furthermore, removal and'replacement of bobbins on the rotating mandrels require manual operations.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION Accordingly, it is the primary object of the present invention to overcome the above-mentioned disadvantages by providing an automatic machine for winding textile yarns delivered continuously at high speeds.

A further object of the present invention is to construct an automatic winding machine wherein a rotatable carrier has end plates rotatably mounting a plurality of yarn winding supports, the carrier rotating to move the yarn winding supports individually to a winding station along an arcuate path intersecting a delivery path along which yarn to be wound is supplied.

An-additional object of the present invention is to provide an automatic winding machine automatically supplying empty winding supports to a rotatable carrier for movement to a winding station and automatically removing fully wound winding supports after movement away from the winding station.

The present invention has another object in that a pneumatic transport tube assembly is utilized in combination with a carrier for moving winding supports to a winding station to automatically catch yarn to be wound to commence winding of the yarn on the winding supports.

Yet a further object of the present invention is to controllably mount a plurality of winding supports on a rotatable carrier by a gripping assembly having axially slidable flanges to facilitate removal of full winding supports from the carrier after movement from a winding station and mounting of empty winding supports on the carrier for movement to the winding station.

Some of the advantages of the present invention over the prior art are that textile yarn continuously delivered at high speeds can be wound on winding supports with minimum waste, and that winding supports are mounted on a carrier at a mounting station, moved to a winding station where yarn is wound therearound, and moved to a removing station where the fully wound winding supports are removed from the carrier automatically without manual intervention.

The present invention is generally characterized in an automatic winding machine for winding textile yarn continuously delivered at high speed including pneumatic means having a transport tube with a longitudinal slit therein for supplying yarn along a delivery path from a supply zone to a waste zone, carrier means for rotatably mounting a plurality of yarn winding supports, the carrier means being rotatable to move the yarn winding supports individually to a winding station along an arcuate path intersecting the delivery path such that movement of a yarn winding support to the winding station moves the yarn to be wound through the longitudinal slit in the transport tube, and drive means for rotating a yarn winding support at the winding station and for distributing the yarn longitudinally along a rotating yarn winding support at the winding station.

Other objects and advantages of the present invention will become apparent from the following description of the preferred embodiment taken in conjunction with the accompanying drawings.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS FIG. 1 is a schematic front elevation of an automatic winding machine according to the present invention.

FIG. 2 is a section of the automatic winding machine taken along line 22 of FIG. 1.

FIG. 3 is a schematic side view of the indexing mechanism for the carrier.

FIG. 4 is a sectional view of one of the flanges of the winding support gripping mechanism.

FIG. 5 is a schematic side view of the winding support loader.

DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENT An automatic winding machine according to the present invention is illustrated in FIGS. 1 and 2 and includes a frame having upstanding side members 12 and 14 disposed beneath a supply zone, generally indicated at 16, from which textile yarn 18 to be wound is continuously delivered. A winder assembly 19 is pivotally mounted on frame 10 about a horizontal shaft 20,

the winder assembly 19 including a winding roll 22 journaled at the ends of a pair of arms 24 and 26 which are pivotally mounted on shaft 20. A motor 28 is carried by arms 24 and 26 to rotatably drive winding roll 22 and to drive a mechanism 31 to reciprocate a yarn guide 30, for example. by rotating a roller having a helical cam groove therein carrying the yarn guide 30. Motor 28 preferably rotates winding roll 22 at a peripheral speed equal to the speed of delivery of yarn 18 from supply zone 16 to the automatic winding machine. and suitable gearing can be utilized to control the speed of rotation of the yarn guide reciprocating mechanism 31. In use, the periphery of the winding roll 22 contacts a yarn winding support disposed at a winding station generally indicated at 32 due to the force of gravity acting on the pivoting structure including arms 24 and 26. In order to balance the pressure with which the winding roll 22 engages a winding support, a pair of counterweights 34 being connected to the winder assembly 19 by a pair of chains 36, each of which extends over a pair of pulleys 38. The chains 36 are rigidly connected to the pivoting winder assembly 19 such that the counterweights 34 tend to counterbalance the force of gravity and rotate the winder assembly 19 counterclockwise looking at FIG. 2. A stop 40 is disposed beneath the winder assembly 19 in order to limit downward movement of the winder assembly by abutting the arms 24 and 26.

While the winder assembly has been described as movable in a pivotal fashion, it will be appreciated that the winder assembly can also be movable with translator or sliding movement with the winding roll and the yarn guide reciprocating mechanism driven by independent motors or by the same motor. Preferably, the yarn guide reciprocating mechanism automatically engages the yarn 18 to be wound as the yarn guide intersepts the yarn and thrusts the yarn towards an engaging element, normally in the form of a pin longitudinally extending from a flange gripping a winding support. In order to fully automate the winding machine, it is advantageous to utilize a yarn guide reciprocating mechanism capable of automatically forming a piecing end as winding is commenced on an empty winding support.

A carrier 42 is mounted on a horizontal shaft 44 journaled in side members 12 and 14 of the frame and rotated by a control mechanism 46 such that the carrier 42 rotates in step-by-step fashion on the horizontal shaft 44 over arcuate angles of Control mechanism 46.can be of any conventional construction to move the carrier 42 in 120 steps such as including a motor started by a switch in response to elapsed time at rest or a condition of the yarn on a winding support at the winding station 32 and stopped by actuation of a microswitch sensing proper positioning of the carrier. That is, as will be appreciated from the following discussion of the operation of the automatic winding machine of the present invention, the control mechanism 46 is operative to move the carrier to position a winding support at the winding station 32, hold the carrier stationary until winding of yarn is completed and thereafter move the carrier to replace the full winding support with an empty winding support.

In order to index the carrier 42 through arcs of 120, an indexing mechanism such as that disclosed in British Patent No. 1,104,156. published Feb. 21, 1968, may be used. It should be kept in mind, however, that any sort of conventional indexing device may be utilized. Referring now to FIG. 3, there is shown a device which utilizes a rack and pinion combined with a rachet to drive the carrier 42. As shown in FIG. 3, a hydraulic or pneumatic cylinder 140 drives a rack 141 which rotates a pinion 142 that is capable of rotating independently of the carrier 42. ln order to couple the pinion 142 to the carrier 42, a rachet 144 is rigidly attached to the carrier 42. The rachet 144 is engaged by a pawl 145 mounted on the pinion 142.

The indexing is accomplished by pressurizing the cylinder 140 to drive the rack 141 in the direction of arrow 146 in order to cause the pinion 142 to rotate in the clockwise direction. As the pinion 142 rotates in the clockwise direction, the pall 145 engages the teeth of the rachet 144 to rotate the carrier 42. In order to rotate the carrier 42 through an angle of 120, the throw of the rack 141 is such that its linear advance is translated into an angular distance of 120 by the pinion 142. In order to secure the carrier 42 at each index position, a locking means 147 is utilized which projects a pin 148 into recesses 149 formed in the periphery of carrier 42. The locking device 147 may operate in any conventional manner. For example, it may be projected by applying a fluid pressure behind the pin 148 to project the pin 148 against the spring (not shown) into one ofthe recesses 149. On the other hand, the pin 148 may be pneumatically retracted against a spring means located behind the pin 148 to release the carrier 42 for rotation.

In order to reset rack 14] to rotate the carrier 42 to the next position, the direction of motion of the rack is reversed by the cylinder 140 so that the rack moves in the direction of the arrow 150. As the rack 141 moves in the direction of the arrow 150, the pawl 145 slips on the rachet 144 so that no force is placed on the carrier 42. Just prior to the next indexing operation, the pin 148 is retracted from recess 149 into which it is engaged. The rack 141 is then again moved in the direction of arrow 146 to rotate the carrier 42. The carrier 42 includes opposing circular end plates 48 and 50 disposed in vertical planes. and three gripping mechanisms 51, each including a pair of axially aligned flanges 52, are mounted on the end plates spaced at 120. The flanges 52 are adapted to engage the ends of a winding support and are axially movable on shafts 53 slidably journalled in end plates 48 and 50 such that at a mounting station 54, the flanges 52 are spaced to permit the mounting of an empty winding support and at a removing station 56, the flanges can be spaced to permit removal ofa full winding support. The shafts 53 are mounted in bearings 58 in the end plates of the carrier 42 in order to permit rotation of the flanges and a winding support gripped therebetween and. further, to permit axial sliding of the flanges for removal and mounting of winding supports.

The position of the flanges may be controlled in any suitable manner, for instance by providing bias means, such as a coiled spring. to normally bias the flanges toward each other and utilizing cam means at the removing and mounting stations to slide the flanges away from each other to permit removal of a winding support and to release the flanges such that the bias means can force the flanges together to grip an empty winding support. Another manner for controlling the movement of the flanges 52 is by utilizing solenoids actuated by movement to the removing and mounting stations to control the position of the flanges. A yarn engaging member 60 extends from one of the flanges 52 of each gripping mechanism 51 and is preferably retractable so as not to interfere with mounting and removal of winding supports between the flanges. The gripping flanges providing external engagement of the winding supports can advantageously be of the type disclosed in U.S. Pat. application Ser. No. 287,080 filed Sept. 7, 1972 (now U.S. Pat. No. 3,831,869). the specification of which is incorporated herein by reference.

In order to engage the winding support 66 with the flanges 52, a system such as that shown in FIG. 4 may be utilized in which a double action pneumatic cylinder 152 is secured to the carrier 42 in order to reciprocate the shaft 53 to which the flange 52 is secured. Prior to approaching the loading station 54 where the winding supports 66 are picked up by the carrier 42, the flanges 52 are in the retracted position toward the direction of the arrow 155. Upon arrival at the loading station 54, the flanges 52 are projected to engage the yarn support 62 and remain projected until the carrier 42 rotates a full winding support 66 to the unloading station '56 where fluid is applied to the other side of the piston in order to shift the shaft 53 in the direction of the arrow 155 to release the full yarn winding support.

A downward sloping chute 62 is disposed at removing station 56 at the rear of frame 10 downstream of the winding station 32 such that when the flanges 52 are slid axially away from each other, the full winding supports will automatically drop into chute 62 and roll away from the automatic winding machine to any suitable storage receptacle. v

A magazine 64 is disposed at the front of frame 10 vertically to receive a plurality of empty winding supports 66. The magazine 64 has a mouth disposed beneath mounting station 54 and a pivotally mounted loader 68 has an end formed to receive an empty winding support 66 from the mouth of magazine 64 and pivot the empty winding support to a position between the flanges 52 of one of the gripping mechanisms 51 such that the flanges 52 can then be moved to grasp the ends of the empty winding support to move the winding support in an arcuate path 70 to the winding station 32. A pair of pulleys 72 are disposed adjacent the arcuate path 70 and have a belt 74 extending therearound, the pulleys72 being driven by a motor 76 to rotate the belt at a predetermined speed. The belt 74 is positioned to contact a wheel 78 secured to one of the shafts 53 of each gripping mechanism such that rotation of the belt 74 contacts the wheel 78 to initially rotate the empty winding supports 66 at a high speed prior to delivery of the empty winding supports to the winding station 32. The linear velocity of the belt 74 is such that it rotates the winding support 66 with a tangential velocity greater than the tangential velocity of winding roll 22.

The yarn 18 to be wound is delivered from supply zone 16 to a waste zone 80, defined by a receptacle at the bottom of the frame 10, by pneumatic yarn transport assembly including tubes 82 and 84 which extend from supply zone' 16 to waste zone with a space therebetween. the space being sufficient to permit passage of an empty winding support 66 therethrough as the carrier 42 rotates. Transport tube 82 is bent at 86 and has a longitudinal slit 88 extending from the bend 86 to an end 90. Yarn 18 is fed into transport tube 82 by compressed air from a nozzle 92 having a yarn cutting mechanism, not shown, carried thereby; and, after passing through the space between transport tubes 82 and 84, yarn 18 is caught by compressed air supplied to a nozzle 94 at the end of transport tube 84, the nozzle 94 carrying a yarn cutting mechanism, not shown. The pneumatic yarn transport assembly described above may take the form of that disclosed in U.S. Pat. application Ser. No. 287,063, filed Sept. 7, 1972 (now U.S. Pat. 3,834,600) the specification of which is incorporated herein by reference. The slit 88 permits the yarn to pass therethrough to the winding station after the yarn is caught by an empty winding support being moved along arcuate path 70 to the winding station 32. Once the yarn has been moved out of the slit by the winding support, it is cut downstream at nozzle 94, and the cutting mechanism at nozzle 92 cuts the yarn after a winding support has been fully wound.

At the commencement of operation, the yarn 18 to be wound will be moved from supply zone 16 through transport tubes 82 and 84 to the receptacle at waste zone 80. Carrier 42 is stationary at this time, and loader 68 is pivoted to place an empty winding support 66 between the flanges 52 of one of the gripping mechanisms 51, which flanges are then moved to engage the ends of the winding support 66 to rotatably mount the winding support on the carrier 42. Control mechanism 46 is then actuated to rotate the carrier 120 to place the empty winding support 66 at the winding station 32. The winding support will move along arcuate path 70 as it moves from mounting station 54 to winding station 32, the winding support being rotated by belt 74 as it is moved over path 70 and intersecting the delivery path of the yarn 18 to move the yarn out of the slit 88 to winding station 32 to commence winding. The winder assembly 19 will be resting on stop 40 as the empty winding support 66 approaches such that the empty winding support will pivot the winder assembly clockwise looking at FIG. 2 as it reaches the winding station. The winding support 66, which is already rotating from belt 74, will be continuously rotated at the winding station by winding roll 22. As the yarn guide 30 reciprocates, it will catch the yarn 18 to commence winding thereof, a piecing end being desirably formed at this time in any desired fashion, such as by utilizing the automatic apparatus and methods for forming piecing ends disclosed in U.S. Pat. application Ser. No. 297,730 filed Oct. 16, 1972 (now U.S. Pat. No. 3,823,884) and Ser. No. 297,731 filed Oct. 16, 1972 (now U.S. Pat. No. 3,858,816), the specifications of which are incorporated herein by reference. As winding commences, due to the yarn guide 30 moving the yarn 18 to be caught by yarn engaging pin 60, the yarn cutting mechanism carried by nozzle 94 is actuated to cut the yarn and permit a'winding to be formed around the winding support.

Any suitable driving means such an electric motor or pneumatic jack may be provided to lift the loader 68. For example, a drive system which utilizes a pneumatically or hydraulically driven rack 160 which is meshed with a pinion 161 that is rigidly attached to an arm 162 connected to the loader 68 may be utilized. As the rack 160 is reciprocated back and forth, it will lift and lower the loader 68. In order to center the winding supports 66 in the loader 68, an extended piece 163 having a V- shaped section which rests on the outside cylindrical surface of the flanges 52 may be utilized. The support 66 is positioned in the extended piece 163 by blocks 151 so that when the V of the extended piece is resting on the flanges 52, the support 66 is coaxial with the flanges. It is possible to use the contact of the V with the flanges to turn on a microswitch controlling the locking of the flanges and return of the loader with a possible prefixed time delay.

As the yarn 18 is wound on a winding support at the winding station, the previously wound winding support is removed from the carrier 42 at removing station 56 by separating the flanges 52. Similarly, at the same time, an empty winding support 66 is mounted on the carrier by movement of loader 68. Thus, while the carrier is stationary during the winding of yarn around a winding support, a full winding support is removed from the carrier and an empty winding support mounted thereon for movement to the winding station.

Once the winding of yarn around a winding support at the winding station is completed, the yarn cutting mechanism at nozzle 92 is actuated to cut the yarn and the carrier is rotated l20 such that the full winding support is moved to the removing station 56 and an empty winding support replaced therefor at the winding station 32. With the yarn 18 cut at nozzle 92, following yarn will be guided in transport tubes 82 and 84 to the waste receptacle such that as the carrier rotates the replacement winding support will intersect the delivery path of the yarn 18 to commence winding about another winding support.

The cutting mechanism utilized may be any type of conventional cutting mechanism such as that described in U.S. Pat. No. 3,640,160, which is mechanically activated or the pneumatically activated yarn cutter such as that described in U.S. Pat. No. 3,570,339.

The combination of the slit pneumatic transport tube assembly with the externally gripping flange mechanism mounted on the carrier permits winding speeds on the order of 6,000 m/min. to be obtained with the automatic winding machine of the present invention, the external gripping flanges permitting the rotation of winding supports at 25,000 RPM to provide an angular velocity corresponding substantially to a winding speed of 6,000 m/min. with complete safety and minimum vibration. The slit pneumatic transport tube assures that there will be no interruptions of operation as the winding supports are changed. Accordingly, the combination of the carrier with the pneumatic transport tube assembly permits continuous winding of yarns deliv cred at high speed.

Since the winding supports are mounted on the carrier by axial movement of the flanges, the mounting of empty winding supports and the removal of full winding supports can be easily accomplished. In order to mount the winding supports, the loader 68 need merely position the empty winding support between the separated flanges with the flanges thereafter tightened and assuring centering of the winding support, it being appreciated that a simple control mechanism can be utilized for such mounting as described above. Similarly, in order to remove a full winding support, the flanges are separated to let the winding support drop into the discharge chute. Thus, the operations of mounting and removing winding supports upstream and downstream of a winding station can be simply accomplished and do not present an obstacle to automatic winding. Furthermore, since the movement of the winding supports is effected by the rotation of a carrier, such movement can be rapidly accomplished with. the time during which the yarn to be wound is directed to the waste zone minimized.

The automatic winding machine according to the present invention can utilize any conventional control mechanisms in order to rotate the carrier 42 to actuate the loader 68 to control movement of the flanges and to actuate the yarn cutting mechanisms and the nozzles in the pneumatic transport assembly such that winding is effected continuously requiring no manual intervention. To this end, it is desired to provide locking means. such as detents, for the carrier 42 to lockthe carrier in each of the three spaced positions at which it is at rest. The magazine 64 and the loader 68 could be disposed directly below the chute 62 for receiving full winding supports and could be secured thereto to provide a tilting assembly such that the weight of the full winding support as it rolls on the chute could be used to tilt the assembly and present an empty winding support between the flanges 52 of the gripping mechanism which released the full winding support.

A suitable control mechanism is illustrated in US. Pat. No. 3,532,278, in which a conventional timing mechanism is triggered by rotary distributor designed to operate in accordance with the winding cycle.

In connection with the utilization of such a control mechanism in the apparatus of the present invention, there can, for example, be spaced at 120 intervals about end plate 42 to coincide with each mounting station a contact, interrupter, and microswitch, respectively, in clockwise order. Thus, as empty tube 66 is rotated along path 70 from mounting station 54 to winding station 32 into contact with winding roll 22, the tube 66 can trigger the interrupter which would, for example, be below the position at l 1 oclock with respect to winding station 32, as seen in FIG. 2, to command engagement of pin 148 (FIG. 3) in the locking position, and stop motor 76 and displace jack 140 (FIG. 3) in direction 150. Of course, the pin 148 will have previously been disengaged from the locking position upon actuation of the timer mechanism at the preselected moment during the automatic winding cycle. Withdrawal of pin 148 can, for example, be preceded by the starting of motor 76 and actuation of belt 74. When the pin 148 is withdrawn, the end plate 42 will be rotated 120 by the action of the pneumatic jack 140.

Yarn guide reciprocating mechanism 31 can be energized for reciprocating yarn guide 30, for example, by the movement of pin 148 towards end plate 42 by having pin I48 release a contact which is electrically connected to the drive means 31.

After a predetermined time during the winding cycle, the timer mechanism will activate the yarn cutter mechanism, pin 148, pneumatic jack I40 and motor 76. The full spool 56 will arrive at the discharge position which may includea spool brake actuated by an electrovalve which can he commanded by a microswitch which can also activate retraction of the flanges 52. The rotation of the end plate 42 can close the aforementioned contact to actuate, for example, an electrovalve, the mounting station 54, and motor mechanism 68 to command the opening; i.e., axial displacement of flanges 52 which can be held in the opened position by a suitable delay device for a sufficient time for the presentation of an empty tube, after which delay the flanges will be closed on the tube and the sequence restarted.

The automatic winding machine according to the present invention may be utilized for winding textile yarns of any type. any kind or any denier. and is especially effective for winding chemical yarns delivered continuously from a spinnerette, for example. or from a treating device. Of course, it will be appreciated that the automatic winding machine can also be utilized for discontinuous winding of any textile yarn.

Inasmuch as the present invention is subject to many variations, modifications and changes in detail, it is intended that all matter described above or shown in the accompanying drawings be interpreted as illustrative. and not in a limiting sense.

I claim: 1. An automatic winding machine for winding textile yarn continuously delivered at high speed, comprising: pneumatic means including a first transport tube with a longitudinal slit therein and a second transport tube axially aligned with and spaced from said first transport tube for supplying yarn along a delivery path from a supply zone to a waste zone, said space being sufficient to permit passage therethrough of an empty yarn winding support; rotatable carrier means for rotatably supporting a plurality of yarn winding supports spaced about the rotatable axis of the carrier means, means for rotating said carrier means to move said yarn winding supports individually to a winding station along an arcuate path intersecting said delivery path at the space between said first and second transport tubes, such that movement of a yarn winding support to said winding station moves the yarn to be wound through said longitudinal slit in said transport tube, and brings the yarn in contact with yarn engaging means adjacent said winding support; and

drive means for rotating a yarn winding support at said winding station and for distributing the yarn longitudinally along a rotating yarn winding support.

2. An automatic winding machine as recited in claim 1 and further comprising means disposed downstream of said winding station for removing full yarn winding supports from said carrier means, and means disposed upstream of said winding station for mounting empty yarn winding supports on said carrier means, such that an empty yarn winding support is mounted on said carrier means by said mounting means, moved to said winding station by said carrier means for winding of yarn therearound and moved after winding for removal from said carrier means by said removing means.

3. An automatic winding machine as recited in claim 2 wherein said drive means includes a pivotally mounted winder assembly having a winding roll engaging a yarn winding support and a reciprocating yarn guide mechanism.

4. An automatic winding machine as recited in claim 2 wherein said carrier means includes opposing end plates rotatable about a horizontal axis and a plurality of gripping mechanisms carried by said end plates for mounting the yarn winding supports.

5. An automatic winding machine as recited in claim 4 wherein said gripping mechanisms include a pair of axially aligned flanges, each of said flanges being slidably mounted on one of said end plates, said removing means sliding said flanges apart to release a full yarn winding support and including a chute for discharging a full yarn winding support released by said flanges, and said mounting means includes a magazine for storing a plurality of empty yarn winding supports and loader means for moving an empty yarn winding support from that when one gripping mechanism is disposed at said winding station, a second gripping mechanism is disposed adjacent said removing means and a third gripping mechanism is disposed adjacent said mounting means.

8. An automatic winding machine as recited in claim 7 and further comprising means disposed along said arcuate path to engage said gripping mechanisms and rotate the yarn winding supports before they reach said winding station. 

1. An automatic winding machine for winding textile yarn continuously delivered at high speed, comprising: pneumatic means including a first transport tube with a longitudinal slit therein and a second transport tube axially aligned with and spaced from said first transport tube for supplying yarn along a delivery path from a supply zone to a waste zone, said space being sufficient to permit passage therethrough of an empty yarn winding support; rotatable carrier means for rotatably supporting a plurality of yarn winding supports spaced about the rotatable axis of the carrier means, means for rotating said carrier means to move said yarn winding supports individually to a winding station along an arcuate path intersecting said delivery path at the space between said first and second transport tubes, such that movement of a yarn winding support to said winding station moves the yarn to be wound through said longitudinal slit in said transport tube, and brings the yarn in contact with yarn engaging means adjacent said winding support; and drive means for rotating a yarn winding support at said winding station and for distributing the yarn longitudinally along a rotating yarn winding support.
 2. An automatic winding machine as recited in claim 1 and further comprising means disposed downstream of said winding station for removing full yarn winding supports from said carrier means, and means disposed upstream of said winding station for mounting empty yarn winding supports on said carrier means, such that an empty yarn winding support is mounted on said carrier means by said mounting means, moved to said winding station by said carrier means for winding of yarn therearound and moved after winding for removal from said carrier means by said removing means.
 3. An automatic winding machine as recited in claim 2 wherein said drive means includes a pivotally mounted winder assembly having a winding roll engaging a yarn winding support and a reciprocating yarn guide mechanism.
 4. An automatic winding machine as recited in claim 2 wherein said carrier means includes opposing end plates rotatable about a horizontal axis and a plurality of gripping mechanisms carried by said end plates for mounting the yarn winding supports.
 5. An automatic winding machine as recited in claim 4 wherein said gripping mechanisms include a paiR of axially aligned flanges, each of said flanges being slidably mounted on one of said end plates, said removing means sliding said flanges apart to release a full yarn winding support and including a chute for discharging a full yarn winding support released by said flanges, and said mounting means includes a magazine for storing a plurality of empty yarn winding supports and loader means for moving an empty yarn winding support from said magazine to be gripped by said flanges of one of said gripping mechanisms.
 6. An automatic winding machine as recited in claim 5 wherein said carrier means includes control means for rotating said end plates a predetermined distance to move an empty yarn winding support from said mounting means to said winding station and for maintaining said end plates stationary until the empty yarn winding support is fully wound.
 7. An automatic winding machine as recited in claim 6 wherein said gripping mechanisms are spaced, such that when one gripping mechanism is disposed at said winding station, a second gripping mechanism is disposed adjacent said removing means and a third gripping mechanism is disposed adjacent said mounting means.
 8. An automatic winding machine as recited in claim 7 and further comprising means disposed along said arcuate path to engage said gripping mechanisms and rotate the yarn winding supports before they reach said winding station. 